D diminished chord (Ddim)
Ddim is D, F and A♭: 1–♭3–♭5 built on D. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
x-x-0-1-3-1 · open · easy
- Notes
- D · F · A♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- First shape
- x-x-0-1-3-1
Ddim on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · D–F–A♭ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- D · F · A♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
Ddim on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
7-5-4-5 · movable · medium
- Notes
- D · F · A♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- First shape
- 7-5-4-5
Changing out of Ddim
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- Ddim → E♭ (leads up a half step)
Guitar: Ddim (x-x-0-1-3-1) to E♭ (x-x-1-3-4-3): the index finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret, the ring finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit.
Piano: Ddim to E♭: play E♭ in root position (E♭–G–B♭), while D moves up to E♭, F up to G and A♭ up to B♭. E♭ - Ddim → E♭m (leads up a half step)
Guitar: Ddim (x-x-0-1-3-1) to E♭m (x-x-1-3-4-2): the index finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, your middle finger lands on the high E string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go.
Piano: Ddim to E♭m: play E♭m in root position (E♭–G♭–B♭), while D moves up to E♭, F up to G♭ and A♭ up to B♭. E♭m - Ddim → Gm (iii in E♭ major)
Guitar: Ddim (x-x-0-1-3-1) to Gm (3-5-5-3-3-3): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 3rd fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 5th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. The two chords share D, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: Ddim to Gm: play Gm in 2nd inversion (D–G–B♭) and D stays under the same finger, while F moves up to G and A♭ up to B♭. Gm
How Ddim is built
Ddim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. It sounds tense and unstable and rarely stays long. Its most common job is to lead up a half step, so Ddim usually moves to E♭ or E♭m.
Start on D, count 3 half steps up to F then 3 half steps up to A♭.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | root | 0 | |
| F | minor third | 3 | |
| A♭ | diminished fifth | 6 |
Keys and progressions with Ddim
Ddim belongs to 2 keys: vii° in E♭ major and ii° in C minor.
Chords close to Ddim
- Ddim and Dm differ by one note: A♭ in Ddim, A in Dm. They share D and F. Dm
Chords that share most of their notes with Ddim: Ddim7, Dm7♭5, Fm6, Fdim7, G♯dim7, B♭7.
Every D chord
D diminished chord: questions
What notes are in the D diminished chord?
D, F and A♭. Ddim is built 1–♭3–♭5 from D: F is the minor third and A♭ is the diminished fifth.
How do you play Ddim on guitar?
The usual shape is x-x-0-1-3-1 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Ddim on piano?
Play D, F and A♭ with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. D sits between the two black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Ddim on ukulele?
7-5-4-5 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Ddim in?
Ddim belongs to 2 keys: vii° in E♭ major and ii° in C minor.
What's the difference between Ddim and Dm?
Ddim and Dm differ by one note: A♭ in Ddim, A in Dm. They share D and F.
All three instruments are drawn and played from D, F and A♭ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.